1840.] 



of the Peninsula of India. 



17 



I possess two specimens, which, as they di(fer''only in size, I consider 

 as identical with the species named as above by Colonel Sykeis, and 

 Swainson's supposed new species does not appear to differ from them. 

 The smaller of my specimens was procured in the hot Carnatic, near 

 Trichinopoly, the larger one on the Coonoor pass of the Neilgherries, 

 at a considerable height. I have observed it on several other occasions, 

 both in the Carnatic, and on the Malabar Coast. It feeds on insects, which 

 it captures on the wing from a fixed perch, and it is, I think,more seden- 

 tary in its habits than any of the previously described Flycatchers. Bill 

 blackish above, whitish below, except at tip ; irides deep brown legs 

 brown. Length of my specimens 5 and 5f inches ; of t]ie first, the 

 wing is 2y7_ths; tail 2; tarsus i^^ths; bill to front iV^is; to gape 

 nearly ^^^ths. In the larger one the wing is 2j'^ths. In both the 3d 

 and 4th quills are equal and longest. 



155. — M. hirundinacea, Horsf., Temm. — M. picafa, Sykes. — Tephro" 

 dorms hirundinacens, Sw. ? — Black and white Flycatcher. 



This bird has so much the habits, as well the general structure 

 and appearance of a Flycatcher, that I shall for the present here re- 

 tain it, and a closely allied species, although Mr. Swainson has, I see, 

 ranged it as a Tephrodornis. — Vide remarks postea. 



I have only hitherto seen it on the Neilgherries, where it is not very 

 uncommon in the woods, darting upon insects in the air from a branch, 

 and though perhaps it wanders about more than many of the genus, is 

 yet not nearly so restless as the Fantails. Bill and legs black; irides 

 sienna yellow. Length 5| to 6 inches ; of wing 2TVhs ; of tail 2^\ihsi 

 tarsus nearly |- inch ; bill to front roths ; at gape yV^lis. 



156. — M, erythropygia. — New species ? — Tephrodornis ? — Red breasted 

 Flycatcher^ 



Z>65cr.~Male : — plumage above, cheeks and chin, of a glossy blue 

 black ; beneath, longitudinal stripe on the wings, and outer edges and 

 tips of the lateral tail feathers, white; breast and rump of a beautiful 

 orange red, darkest on the rump. 



Female, — with the parts black in the male, of an ashy brown (except 

 the tail which is deep black); feathers at the base of the bill above 

 whitish ; rump, outer edges and tips of the lateral tail feathers, and be- 

 neath, white, tinged with ashy on the breast. Bill and legs black | 



